Chandler officials have joined with neighborhood opponents against a planned joint senior and workforce affordable multifamily development on unincorporated Maricopa County land on Ocotillo Road.
Affordable housing developer Dominium Management wants to build The Landings at Ocotillo, which would create a 182-unit senior living complex and 336-unit multifamily complex on 25 acres. Estimated rents for the units would be priced at between 8% and 12% less than standard market rates, according to projections.
Chandler officials’ stated opposition stems from the City’s efforts to market the area, which is surrounded by Chandler land, as an employment corridor. They met with Dominium representatives to discuss alternate sites, but the company decided to continue pursuing plans at the original location.
City planning officials said the residential development would harm potential industrial development in the area. They allege residents could be inconvenienced by the noise and activity on the industrial properties and that industrial developers may be disinclined to build there for fear of complaints from residents impacting their operations.
While the decision to approve or deny the plan ultimately lies with the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, Chandler is not without influence. Dominium had originally planned to request the site’s annexation into Chandler. The County supports that action because the developments will rely on City services and utilities.
While the City opposes the proposal because of its location, officials said they suspect resident opposition will stem from the standard array of misinformation that often plagues affordably targeted developments, such as beliefs that the units will be targeted toward illegal immigrants or the homeless and that “subsidized” housing will lower property values.
Chandler planning officials and Dominium representatives had a meeting last week to discuss the facts of the plan. Chandler officials have expressed support for workforce and other lower-rent multifamily developments in the city and have stated their opposition lies with Dominium’s planned location.
County officials have said they are aware of Chandler’s opposition. Planning officials expect to make note of the circumstances in their report to the Maricopa County Planning and Zoning Commission.
Dominium officials have said they are planning to continue with their Maricopa County rezoning efforts and pointed out medium-density residential exists across the street from their planned location.
No hearing date has been set for the project to go before the Maricopa County Planning and Zoning Commission, but an early December timeframe is possible.
Residents organizing in opposition to the plan will meet this week in the Chandler Police Department’s community room downtown.
The land is currently owned by Shah and Hina Urvish. The Housing Authority of Maricopa County and Dominium Apartments are listed as co-developers on project materials. (Source)
